As with every iteration of a Microsoft product, what was "new and sleek" two years ago is "dated and cheesy now" (these phrases are always used when a UI change happens). This is the new and sleek this year (mark my words, it will be dated and cheesy in 1 to 2 releases).

There is an extension you can get that will lower case the menus. Just thank your respective deity that they left the menus and didn't migrate to the Ribbon. The typical mantra is, when you don't add anything compelling, just move stuff around and then market it as new and streamlined (I mostly mean that, though VS2012 did add quiet a bit of support for new technologies so I personally give it a pass). Office on the other hand, I don't think they've added anything in the last decade that I actually use or need. I could be using Office 2000 personally. Office upgrades have added nothing for me really other than having to find the new locations of buttons and menus that I previously knew the locations of (the one single exception for me personally is SharePoint integration).

You'll adapt. Then VS2010 looks annoying after a while. Typical experience, really. Also, they stuck a blue theme back in the latest update, so you can get blue back ... but I tried it and honestly don't like it ... rather have the dark theme or the grey theme personally.

You'll adapt. Then VS2010 looks annoying after a while. Typical experience, really. Also, they stuck a blue theme back in the latest update, so you can get blue back ... but I tried it and honestly don't like it ... rather have the dark theme or the grey theme personally.

As much as I hate on VS 2012 I do appreciate they went the extra mile to bring back the blue theme. There some hope in that.

The exchange server I use has it's web site enabled that works pretty well (granted, it's not as friendly as the full blown client.. but, works for me since I really only use it for email, my calendar and shared calendars). You did make me think of one caveat... at work I'm required to use Lync (Lync messaging is built into the Exchange web-site but I can't make phone calls anymore without it).

@PopeDai:Yes, I was actually being flippant, and simply making a general point that as Exchange and Outlook versions get further apart, the ability to support them becomes more difficult, as newer tech is implemented and older tech is phased out.